Georgia lawmaker targets guidelines on campus sexual assault

ATLANTA (AP) -- A Georgia state lawmaker is taking aim at federal guidance issued to colleges and universities on the handling of complaints of sexual assault and harassment.

State Rep. Earl Ehrhart and his wife, Virginia, on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights.

The lawsuit says a 2011 letter sent by the department's civil rights arm has effectively imposed binding regulations without going through the necessary administrative procedures.

The lawsuit also says the letter has forced schools to make sweeping changes or risk losing federal funding, which has come at great cost to the schools and has jeopardized the due process rights of students accused of sexual violence.

An Education Department spokesman said he couldn't comment on pending litigation.